[Harp-L] traveling with instruments

[David Fertig <drfertig@xxxxxxxxx>]

I always hand-carry my fishing tackle box rig on board airplanes etc.  
Three reasons: 
(1) It's as sure to arrive as I am; 
(2) I've no luggage bulky enough to pack it;
(3) it's emblazoned with the 60's era sticker bearing a strike fist and the phrase, "Strike The War Machine,"  which I love to take through the airport since most TSA types - hell, most Americans - are in love with the war machine, so a small poke in the eye, thank you very much.  

I never get hassled about the harps, beyond a simple query, and I always have at least one in my pocket and usually a couple in my jacket/shoulderbag, too.   

Don't forget Woody's "This guitar kills fascists."  A bit too bloody & ironic for me, although I'm no pacifist, either!

Dave "(deleted by NSA)" Fertig 

--- On Tue, 12/15/09, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx <harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
 Re: [Harp-L] traveling with instruments (was PRX » Piece » NEA Jazz Master Toots Thielemans)
        	Tuesday, December 15, 2009 11:47 AM
        	
            
            
            From: 
            "Winslow Yerxa" <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>
            	
            	
            	
        	To: 
        	"harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
                Rob - 

I
remember a few years before that hanging out with Toots backstage at
the Concord Jazz Festival. Toots introduced me to Ray Brown, who was
standing next to his bass case, which looked like a refrigerator.
String bass players are known to either buy a seat on the plane for
their instruments, or hire instruments locally when they travel. But
Ray had it all aced with this monstrous case to protect his ax, and was
enthusiastic in talking it up. Toots seemed very interested, so the
case you saw may have been an upshot of that conversation.

Harmonica
content: Who is willing to check their harps in as luggage to avoid the
hassle of schlepping, explaining to baggage screeners, etc., and who
insists on keeping their harps in their possession the entire time?

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5